Alan Hansen believes Liverpool have a crucial advantage over fellow top four contenders Manchester City this season – the ability to play as a team. The two sides face one another next Monday night having both started with draws against Arsenal and Tottenham. Hansen watched each game over the weekend and feels Liverpool fans have more reason to be optimistic as the new Barclays Premier League season takes shape.

He said: “At times, City look like 11 strangers. When 11 strangers come up against a good team, you back the good team every time and, but for Joe Hart, City could have lost by six at Spurs on Saturday. “If players do not have an understanding of each other, then you have a problem, and City have to develop the cohesion that is crucial for any team with aspirations of winning the major trophies.

“Liverpool have that cohesion and understanding, though, and the picture at Anfield is now much brighter than it was just two months ago. “Back then, it was all doom and gloom. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres looked likely to leave and the outlook appeared extremely bleak, but Roy Hodgson has steadied the ship and, in Joe Cole, he has made a great signing. “All of a sudden, Liverpool supporters are feeling quietly optimistic again.”They might not be ready to win the league, but they are a genuine top four contender.”